Improvement in bill and paper files



w. I+. FoYE. Bill and Paper-Files.

No.145,497. PatenredDec.16,1873.

w a, J

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. FOYE, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

IMPROVEMENT IN BILL AND PAPER FILES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 145,497, dated December 16, 1873; application led October 22, 1873.

To all Iwhom. vit may concern:

Be it known that I, VVlLLrAM H. FoYE, of

Y Portland, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented lcertain new and useful Improvements in Bill and Paper Files; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description there-of, that will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsand to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a top plan 3 Fig. 2, a side elevation broken out to show the parts; Fig. 3, a detail view enlarged; Fig. 4, a detail.

Same letters show like parts.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a device in which manuscript, printed sheets, pamphlets, notes, bills, and other papers can be conveniently Iiled and readily consulted when desired. I will describe the different parts, and the structure of my invention, and the modications offthe same. The different parts are as follows:

ais the larger top ap or cover. bis the base. c is the smaller top flap or cover. d are the side pieces. e is the end piece. d and e are fixed to each other and to the base b. j' is a narrowr strip hinged to the top edge of c, and also connected by hinges to the top iiap a. g is an end piece hinged tothe base b at h, and carrying the flap cbefore described. is an edge on the under side of the strip f, for the purpose of slightly pressing in upon the articles placed within the le. The flaps a and c are capable of being lifted up and thrown back so as to expose the articles placed within. The strip f is kept pressed down upon the articles placed under it by means of a spring, indicated atj. This may be of any convenient form. When the ilap a is turned back it moves upon the hinges k, and when thus turned back the papers within the leare kept in place by the strip f. The strip f can then be raised from the papers upon which it presses by pressing down upon the outer end of the iiap a thus turned back. This operation will allow the articles within the file to lie therein without any force or pressure upon them. Thus any particular paper can be withdrawn with ease, and by removing the hand from the flap a, the strip f be allowed again to press upon the re maining articles within the file.

IVhen the flap e is allowed to drop over a the contents of the file are completely covered up. A catch may be employed to fasten the flap c down upon the lap a. For certain uses the side pieces d may be omitted.

Another convenient form of spring is shown in Fig. 4, 'which consists of a horizontal rod to run along the top of the end piece c. A spiral is coiled around the rod, and has a projecting portion to be fastened to the under side of the strip j', and so keep it pressed down.

I do not limit myselil to any particular form of a spring hinge or catch.

l shows the catch to unite the Hap c to the flap ,when desired. A shows a form of a spring where a projection on the strip j' rests on the top of the spring.

That I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the base b, end piece e, hinged strip f, spring j having the edge c', ap a, flap c, and end piece g, as herein set forth.

2. The combination of the base b, end piece e, strip f, spring vj having the edge t', lap a, ap c, catch l, end piece g, and side pieces d, as herein set forth, to operate as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of October, 1873.

WM. HENRY FOYE. Witnesses:

WM. HENRY CLIFFORD, FRANK H. JORDAN. 

